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Drake’s 2nd-half rally tops Eastern Michigan, 66-53

Sports

December 9th, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Ben Simons scored 16 points as Drake rallied in the second half to overtake Eastern Michigan 66-53 on Thursday night.Jordan Clarke added 13 and Jeremy Jeffers 11 for the Bulldogs (6-3), who outscored Eastern Michigan 42-26 after halftime to win their second in a row and ninth straight at home dating to last season.Darrell Lampley’s 20 points led the Eagles (4-5), who dropped their fourth consecutive game. Derek Thompson contributed 18.The Bulldogs trailed 27-24 at intermission but scored the first eight points of the second half, three each by Simons and Clarke and two by Rayvonte Rice. That created a lead they never relinquished.Thompson’s 3-pointer trimmed Eastern Michigan’s deficit to 47-43 with 4:28 to play, but the Eagles were forced to foul, and Drake extended its lead from the line by sinking 13 of 17 free throws in the final 4:09.